Customer Reviews

Breakthru: Pilates Plus

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I tried this yesterday for the first time and wouldn't recommend it for a beginner. Collage rate it as intermediate/advanced - they're right. I work our regularly, and have worked up to using Moira Stott's intermediate Pilates video regularly for the last couple of months, interspersed with (amongst others) Baron Baptiste's Soul of Strength and Power and Precision - All the Right Moves - Kathy Smith's Timesaver weights - J Kries Perfect Mix - So I am pretty fit - but cannot lower straight down from a plank - knees go down first. That should give you an idea of my level!
Well - this video has LOTS of pushups - including tricep pushups - with the elbows close in - I couldn't even do these on my knees. Fine - something to work towards - but frustrating also!
Anyway - it starts of with 8 mins ballet/yoga warmup - nice, flows. And suitable for those who don't know anything about either of these regimes, as they don't take anything for granted - she doesn't even call a downward dog by its name!
Next comes the Pilates-based floorwork - 18 minutes - as far as I know, none of this is classic Pilates floorwork, but it is very Pilates in feel - and tough, yes!
Then 12 minutes of standing ballet - legwork - this is the easiest segment, but you will feel it if you do it properly - this time, they use the ballet terms - but explain them for non-ballerinas. Good stuff.
Lastly 9 minutes of classic yoga - warriors etc - to keep toning while stretching out. Also good. My only crit - why not another down dog to stretch out the calves even more after the ballet legwork? But the warrior poses probably do the job, as my calves feel ok today.

So - 47 minutes in all - 2 pleasant instructors who cue extremely well, while not talking down to us home exercisers - and who smile often (unlike Karen Voigt who I cannot take any more) but not too much - unlike J Kries who can look a bit forced. This is a keeper, I recommend for those who have previous experience and are already quite strong. And - to compare with one of my favourite fusion videos - All the Right Moves - this is shorter - 47 as opposed to 60 minutes - and the yoga is hatha - not power as in ATRM - and IMHO it flows better - although really I like the way ATRM leaves me feeling more than this - i.e. wrung out! This is much less sweaty - which has its own advantages...... go for it!

I started thinking about buying Pilates/flexibility tapes after getting disgusted with my stiff back (grunting everytime I bend over) and lack of even a trace of an abdominal muscle. But, I was afraid of tedious and repetitive moves, bad music, and tacky hot pink outfits.

BUT, this tape is a gem, it's heavenly. I love the variety, (moving from Pilates to ballet to yoga) I never get bored because it moves to new moves all the time, I like the stretching, and use the ballet portion without the chair to help with my balance. I even feel tighter in the abdominals, and am more aware of my core and posture for the day.

I DON'T think beginners need to shy away from this tape; so long as you listen to the instructor's hints about doing the easier, modified moves. Heck, I'll probably never be able to get through all of the Yoga reverse and tricep push ups--so what? I'm still doing more in proper form than I was 2 months ago. There's no fast paced music or moves that you'll have to keep skipping to keep up! In short, I'd buy a lot more videos if they were all this flowing and innovative.

I used this video during last summer. I am in my late 20's. I had lost some weight previously due to stress. I had almost no upper body strength. My stamina was low as well. As a final blow, insidious cellulite had begun to dimple my thighs in ways that were anything but endearing, sending me into panic mode.
After carefully considering the reviews , I settled for this one. I was pleasantly surprised by the results. Not earth shattering in the way, say, the BowFlex commercials keep guaranteeing, but there was enough of a difference to make me happy. However, one has to be mindful of personal discipline and what role it plays in the results one gets from any exercise regimen. 'Regular' is the key word here.
I read one reviewer's comment on the difficulty of the push-ups even for someone in relatively good shape. For me, the whole point is to build _up_ to a certain level of strength. I didnot manage to do a single yoga push-up (correctly) the first time. BUT in about a week or so, I could do four of them, without cheating. The sense of achievement, in itself, was reward enough.
Btw, I most enjoy the ballet segment. I believe that it has helped improve my balance.
It is likely that one will eventually need to graduate to an advanced level of pilates, as this one starts getting easier.

After 2 weeks of doing this video every other day, my abs were solid from the bottom of my rib cage all the way down to my groin! And I've had 2 C-sections!

This video is my first with Pilates on it. It is great for beginners because it is tripled with ballet & yoga. This makes it a well-rounded workout. The Pilates segment is just the right length. Anymore would be too much for a beginner. It is definitely challenging, and after doing it the first time, I thought Pilates was torture. Then I realized I like subjecting myself to this torture, and it really does work! I've done other tapes for my abs, and the Pilates segment on this video works the best BY FAR!

Breakthru Pilates Plus is a wonderful mix of several different exercise methods, with Pilates being only part of the workout. The entire video is about 46 minutes long, and it's broken up into four sections as follows:

Section 1: Michelle Dozios leads this stretching segment, which consists mainly of yoga-type stretches, including some sun salutation variations. About 8 minutes.

Section 2: Tracy York begins this segment, which focuses on Pilates. The exercises performed here clearly are rooted in Pilates, yet they are modified from traditional Pilates matwork. Some of moves are deceptively simple (e.g., leaning back to engage your abs and then punching to each side), but I could really feel the work in my abdominal area. Following the lying abs work, you roll onto your side for some additional unique abs moves as well as Pilates side kick type moves. A really challenging series containing plank moves combined with push-ups comes next; you will also do "decellerated push-ups," a slower moving tricep pushup. Michelle takes over to repeat the exercises on the other side as well as to do a second pushup series. At 17 minutes, this is the longest section of the workout.

Section 3: This is the ballet-inspired section led by Michelle. Using a chair for ballance, you will do simple plies, leg raises, and leg kicks, first on one side and then repeating on the other side. These exercises were definitely tougher than they looked, and I found it difficult to emulate Michelle and Tracy's perfect form. This section lasted about 12 minutes.

Section 4: This was the yoga segment, and it consisted of about 8 minutes of standing yoga poses, including warrior, side angle, chair, and standing forward bends. Tracy leds this section, and she provides good instructions on alignment. The workout ends rather abruptly with a very brief stretch at the end of this segment.

I really enjoyed this workout; the wide variety combined with the segmented format to hold my interest, and because of this, I know that I won't easily tire of this video. Michelle and Tracy were both good instructors who provided good cuing, and for many of the exercises, one of them shows a modified version. They occasionally chatted back and forth, but not to the point of being annoying or disrupting the flow of the routine. This is a perfect workout for intermediate exercises like myself who enjoy doing a wide variety of methods in a relatively short period of time.

I have mostly The Firm videos, however I started doing pilates with the Dummies series and really enjoyed it. This video has Michelle Dozois from the Dummies series along side Tracy York. These two have a great rapport and a challanging workout. While it doesn't get your heart racing it does work your core (pilates), your legs (ballet) and stretch and calm you (yoga). I find it a nice change of pace from my Firm videos. Take the time to try it, you won't be disappointed.

I am NOT a physically active person and I've never been... BUT I'm doing a life change and I'm trying to become and remain active (right now only using exercise videos). Out of all the exercise videos I have (tae-bo, yoga, walking, strength) this is my favorite. I like the instructors (they're not irratating and sometimes they have a tough time getting through some of the exercises) and I like the exercises. It doesn't leave me feeling dead or out of breath, but I feel focused and working hard. I still have trouble doing some exercises, but I actually find myself WANTING to do the tape several days in a week... THAT's pretty good for an exercise video! Also, I'm really sore the next day and I HAVE seen results... that's the most important!

hey now-
this video is great! the exercises don't look very strenuous at first- until you actually do them! it's amazing how well this works. i look and feel great, and i only do this twice per week- in addition to walking my pug every day. you really will feel leaner, stronger and longer!

I'm a beginner and I found this challenging but it was definately good. They do a good job of explaining as they go along. The ballet was much harder than I really had expected. I have typically done yoga in the past, and I liked the incorporation of all three into one workout. I probably wouldn't rely on any of the three segments for a complete workout on their own nor would I buy the video expecting any of the three segments to be comprehensive in that particular area of exercise. Each of the segments seems to focus mainly on one area. As a whole though, it was a good workout and challenging enough that I will want to keep on doing it.

I really enjoyed the Pilates for Dummies with Michelle Dozias, so I thought I'd try this one next. I got involved in Pilates as part of my effort to tone my midsection, but found I wished for a more "overall" body toning workout. Breakthru Pilates Plus definitely delivered on that! After a good session with this DVD I am sore from my calves all the way to my shoulders.

The Pilates section is good, but I still prefer the Dummies workout in some ways. I think the Pilates portion could be longer. I practiced ballet for about 20 years and also have modern dance experience, so I especially like the ballet portion of the workout. Michelle has incredible form and really looks like a trained dancer. I really feel the work in my calves and thighs. I am not a fan of yoga as I have found it very stressful on my joints, but I mostly enjoy the yoga portion. It is a good way to end the workout since it stretches a lot of your major muscles well. I wish they had made the Pilates section longer and the yoga section shorter--but that may just be me!

Pluses: Great overall body workout; lots of variety; Michelle is an excellent instructor and Tracy is OK; definitely a workout with "room to grow"

Minuses: Hard to do workout and watch the DVD at the same time; a bit hard to do ballet portion on carpet

Recommended with four stars